Flashbulb holder for photographic flashuns

ABSTRACT

A flashbulb holder for a photographic flashgun is shown having a housing with an opening into which various-sized flashbulbs are inserted between a pair of pivoted holding members mounted on opposite sides of the opening. A pair of base contact members engage the flashbulbs, as they are inserted between the holding members, for urging the bases of the flashbulbs against the inner edges of the holding members. A potential source connects to the base members for selectively energizing the flashbulbs.

United States Patent Masahiko lwaki inventors Fuiisawa-shi; llazimeKogawa, Tokyo, both of Japan Appl. No. 802,545 Filed Feb. 26, 1969Patented Sept. 28, 1971 Assignee Honeywell lnc. Priority Mar. 11, 1968Japan 43/ 15756 FLASl-IBULB HOLDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASHGUNS 3 Claims,4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 240/ 1.3, 339/45 T Int. Cl 011' 13/62 240/ 1 ,3; 339/32, 33, 45 TReferences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,260,085 3/1918 Snyder .t 339/332,912,665 11/1959 lrwin 339/45 T X 2,920,301 1/1960 Kawate..... 339/45 TX 2,976,511 3/1961 Lipsitz 339/45 T X 3,067,399 12/1962 Matsui.. 339/333,259,868 7/1966 lrwin t. 339/45 T X Primary ExaminerSamuel S. MatthewsAssistant Examiner-Robert P. Greiner Anorneys--Arthur l-l. Swanson andLockwood D. Burton ABSTRACT: A flashbulb holder for a photographicflashgun is shown having a housing with an opening into whichvarioussized flashbulbs are inserted between a pair of pivoted holdingmembers mounted on opposite sides of the opening. A pair of base contactmembers engage the flashbulbs, as they are inserted between the holdingmembers, for urging the bases of the flashbulbs against the inner edgesof the holding members. A potential source connects to the base membersfor selectively energizing the flashbulbs.

PATENTEnsiPalsn 3609.333

INVENTORS.

MASAHIKO IWAKI 9 BY HAZIME KoeAv A r W ATTORNEY.

FLASHBULB HOLDER FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASHGUNS The present inventionrelates to a flashbulb holder for a photographic flashgun which mounts aflashbulb having a base of any type or size in such a location that thecenter of illumination of the flashbulb is in an aligned relationshipwith the focal position of a reflector associatedwith the flashgun.

Prior art photographic flashguns are generally adapted to receive aflashbulb of a particular base size. When it is desired to utilize aflashbulb of a different base size, it is normally required to obtain adifferent flashgun. Some prior art flashguns, however, are arranged toreceive flashbulbs of various base sizes. These flashguns are providedwith a reflector having a particular mirror surface adapted for aparticular flashbulb which cannot be modified to efficiently reflect thelight ofthe various-sized flashbulbs mounted therein.

Prior art flashguns are not adapted to receive the older bayonet-typeflashbulb and the newer AG-type flashbulb within the sameflashbulb-holding socket. Further, the prior art flashguns are notcapable of receiving a plurality of flashbulbs in such a manner that thecenter of flash corresponds with the focal position of the reflector.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aflashgun with a flashbulb-holding socket which is capable of mountingvarious-size flashbulbs. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a flashgun whichis capable of mounting a plurality of flashbulbs having their center offlash aligned with the focal position of the flashgun reflector.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a flashgun witha simplified method of ejecting the flashbulb therefrom.

Still a further object is to provide an improved flashgunholding socketwhich is simple in construction, low in cost, and dependable inoperation.

A In accomplishing these and other objects, there is provided aflashbulbholder for a photographic flashgun having a pair of flashbulb-holdingmeans pivoted on opposite sides of a guide opening located within thehousing. The flashbulb-holding means effectively close the guide openingfrom the inside. As a flashbulb is inserted between theflashbulb-holding means into the guide opening, it engages base contactmeans which are resiliently urged against the flashbulb. The flashbulbis inserted until the opposite inner edges of the flashbulb-holdingmeans engage and hold the flashbulb against the urging of the basecontact means for retaining it within the socket.

Further objects and many of the attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following description, whenconsidered with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. la and lb are vertical sections diagrammatically showing holdingpositions of the flashbulb holder for two dif ferent types offlashbulbs;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the flashbulb holder accordingto the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the flashbulb holder according to thepresent invention.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1a and lb,a flashbulb holder is shown generally at 1 having guide opening 2 whichreceives any one of a plurality of various-sized flashbulbs. The guideopening 2 is closed by a pair of flashbulb-holding members 5 which arepivotally supported on opposite sides of the opening upon pins 3. Theflashbulb-holding members 5 operate to close the guide opening 2 and areurged into the closing position by springs 4, FIG. 2, coiled upon thepins 3.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the flashbulb-holding members '5 each include amain portion 51: having upper and lower halves, one of which extends asa tab which terminates at an inner edge 5a. Each tab extends from itsflashbulb-holding member toward the recess, formed by the absence of atab half on the opposite flashbulb-mounting member, for closing theguide opening 2. .A portion of each flashbulb-holding member extendsfrom the fulcrum point formed by the pins 3 away from the opening 2.This extended portion forms a tail portion 5c which cooperates with theejector arrangement of the flashbulb holder to be described hereinbelow.A pair of base contact members 6 is located at the bottom of the guideopening 2 within the holder 1. Rods 6a extend from they base members 6for attaching a pair of springs 7 thereto. The springs urge thebasecontact members 6 against the base of a flashbulb, as it is insertedinto the guide opening 2 of the flashbulb holder 1.

The flashbulb holder is provided with an electrical circuit whichincludes a switch 8 that normally works in synchronism with the shutterof a camera, not shown. A potential energy source is provided, such as aDC battery E, having its negative terminal connected through the spring7 to one of the base members 6 and its positive contact connected to thecommon terminal of the switch 8; The normally open terminal of theswitch 8 is then connected through the second spring 7 to the secondbase member 6. This circuit operates to' fire-a flashbulb when theswitch 8 is closed by the action of the camera shutter, as will bedescribed hereinbelow.

As shown in FIG. 2, the flashbulb housing is formed from a socket 10having a centrally relieved portion along its longitu dinal axis thatforms the lower portion of the guide opening2. The rods 6a pass throughthe socket 10 and are retained therein, as by shoulders. The springs 7are mounted over each rod 6a for urging the base contact members 6 alongthe guide opening 2 toward the flashbulb-holding members 5. A tabportion 6b extends from the edge of one of the base contact members tocontact the outer edge of the base of a larger flashbulb, as theflashbulb is inserted into the guide opening 2. This contact pushes thebase contact member 6 down and out of the way for allowing the secondbase contact member 6 to contact the center of the larger flashbulb.When smaller flashbulbs are utilized within the flashbulb holder 1 thetwo base contact members each contact the base of the flashbulb. Thisarrangement will be further described hereinbelow.

The socket 10 is also provided with a pair of slots which receive thelegs of a U-shaped ejector 11. The ejector I1 is provided with a pair ofsprings 12 for urging the ejector away from the tail portions 5c of theflashbulb-holding members 5. A pushbutton 13 is arranged to engage thebase of the U- shaped ejector 11. The pins 3 and springs 4, whichpivotally mount the holding members 5, fit within a relieved portionlocated at the top of the guide opening 2 within the socket I0. Aholding frame 14 is placed over the pins 3 and holding members 5 forsecuring them within the guide opening 2.

The outer periphery of the holding frame 14 provides a cylindricalshoulder upon which reflector blades 16 may be rotatably mounted.Retaining of the reflector blades is accomplished by a reflector-holdingplate 15 secured, as by screws, against the holding frame 14.

Referring now to FIGS. 1a and lb, the operation of the flashbulb holderwill now be explained. As a larger flashbulb 17 having a bayonet-type orM-type base 17a is inserted into the opening 2, the holding members 5yield in a downward direction against the urging of the springs 4 forenlarging the guide opening 2. Upon further insertion, the tab 6b on oneof the base contact means 6 contacts the outer lowermost edge of thebase 17a for causing the base contact 6 to yield with the inward thrust.The flashbulb I7 is inserted until the inner edges 5a of the holdingmembers 5 fall into a groove 17b within the base 17a. At this point, theurging of the springs 4 cause the inner edges 5a to engage the groove17b and hold the flashbulb 17 against the outward force exerted by thespring-loaded base contact member 60. The tab 6b, having forced its basecontact member down below the flashbulb I7, contacts the edge of theflashbulb base 17a,- while the second base contact member 6 contactsthecenter contact of the base 17a. Thus, when the switch 8 is closed,the positive terminal of the potential source E is connected throughspring 7, base contact 6 and tab 6b to the outer edge of the flashbulb17. The negative terminal of the potential source E is connected throughthe second spring 7 to the second base contact 6 and then to the centercontact of the flashbulb base for firing the flashbulb. After theflashbulb 17 has been fired, the pushbutton 13 is depressed for urgingthe legs of the U-shaped ejector ll upwardly against the tail portions50 of the holding members 5. This causes the main portion b of theholding members 5 to be pivoted downwardly for releasing their hold onthe groove 17b and allowing the spring-loaded base contact members 6 tourge the flashbulb 17 from the socket.

In FIG. 1b, a flashbulb 18 of the AG-type is inserted into the guideopening 2 where its base 18a contacts the holding members 5. The holdingmembers 5 resiliently yield, until the base 180 has passed therebetween,and then engage a groove 18b within the base of the flashbulb 18. Itwill be noted that the base 18a is substantially narrower than the base17a of the M- type or bayonet-type flashbulb. Thus, the tab portion 6bof the base contact 6 does not engage the outer edge of the base. Thetwo base contacts 6 each engage a portion of the base 18a and thecontact wires thereof, located on each end of the narrow base l8a.Whenthe switch 8 is closed, a positive potential from the source E isapplied through one base contact 6 to one side of the flashbulb base,while the potential from the source E is applied through the other basecontact member to the other side thereof. Thus, activation of switch 8causes the flashbulb 18 to fire. Again, ejection is accomplished bydepressing the pushbutton 13 for engaging the tail portions 5c with thelegs of the U-shaped ejector 11 thus urging the main portions 5bdownwardly for allowing the spring-loaded base contact members to ejectthe flashbulb 18 from the holder 1.

It will be observed that the flashbulb 17 has a center of flash orillumination 19 while the flashbulb 18 has a center of illumination 20.These centers are located at different points within the bulbs. Thepresent invention has been arranged to allow the illumination centers tobe aligned with a focal position 21 formed by the reflector plates 16when they are expanded and clamped together for forming the reflectormirror. Through the unique design of the flashbulb holder, the largerflashbulb 17 is inserted deeper into the flashbulb holder for aligningits center of illumination with the focal position of the reflectors 16.Similarly, the flashbulb 18 is not inserted as deeply into the flashbulbholder for aligning its center of illumination with the focal position21 of the reflectors 16. Thus, the flashbulb holder of the presentinvention may be utilized to mount a plurality of various-sizedflashbulbs having different centers of illumination, within a commonflashgun having a reflector with a fixed focal position.

Accordingly, the flashgun of this invention has the advantage that itcan securely hold any one of the bayonet-type, M-type or AG-typeflashbulbs without regard to the form of the base and without regard tothe location of the center of illumination.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionwill become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the above.Therefore, the present invention should be limited only by the appendedclaims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A flashbulb holder for a photographic flashgun capable of receivingvarious flashbulbs having variously sized bases and bulbs, comprising:

housing means having an opening therein;

a pair of flashbulb-holding means pivotally supported within saidhousing for receiving, one at a time, said various flashbulbstherebetween;

fulcrum means, about which said flashbulb-holding means are pivotallysupported, arranged on opposite sides of said opening;

a pair of base contact means arranged for connection to a potentialsource and resiliently arranged to contact contacts on said base of saidflashbulbs, as said flashbulbs are received between saidflashbulb-holding means, for urging said flashbulbs against saidflashbulb-holding means thereby holding said flashbulbs therebetween;said pair of base contact means being resiliently arranged to beindividually urged against said variously sized bases of said flashbulbsfor providing proper contact with said contacts on said bases,

said flashbulb-holding means being arranged to resiliently close saidopening and including tail portions extending away from said opening;and

a movable ejector means engaging said tail portions of saidflashbulb-holding means for causing said flashbulb-holding means to openfrom said opening upon movement of said movable ejector means therebyejecting from said holder a one of said flashbulbs held by said holdingmeans.

2. A flashbulb holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said pair of base contact means includes spring means for resilientlymounting said base contact means within said opening of said housingmeans;

said pair of base contact means are symmetrically arranged within saidopening of said housing means for contacting each contact of the base ofa smaller based one of said flashbulbs as the latter is inserted intosaid opening; and

a tab portion extends from one of said pair of base contact means forcontacting the edge of the base of a larger based one of said flashbulbsas the latter is inserted into said opening, thereby allowing the otherof said pair of base contact means to contact the center contact of saidbase of said larger based flashbulb.

3. A flashbulb holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are includedreflector means mounted upon said housing means and having a fixed focalposition; wherein each of said flashbulbs has a center of illumination;and wherein said flashbulb-holding means is arranged to oppositely yieldfor holding the base of a larger based one of said flashbulbs at oneholding position thereon against the urging of said resiliently arrangedbase contact means while holding the base of a smaller based one of saidflashbulbs at a different holding position thereon to cause the centerof illumination of each of said flashbulbs to be aligned with said focalposition of said reflector.

1. A flashbulb holder for a photographic flashgun capable of receivingvarious flashbulbs having variously sized bases and bulbs, comprising:housing means having an opening therein; a pair of flashbulb-holdingmeans pivotally supported within said housing for receiving, one at atime, said various flashbulbs therebetween; fulcrum means, about whichsaid flashbulb-holding means are pivotally supported, arranged onopposite sides of said opening; a pair of base contact means arrangedfor connection to a potential source and resiliently arranged to contactcontacts on said base of said flashbulbs, as said flashbulbs arereceived between said flashbulb-holding means, for urging saidflashbulbs against said flashbulb-holding means thereby holding saidflashbulbs therebetween; said pair of base contact means beingresiliently arranged to be individually urged against said variouslysized bases of said flashbulbs for providing proper contact with saidcontacts on said bases, said flashbulb-holding means being arranged toresiliently close said opening and including tail portions extendingaway from said opening; and a movable ejector means engaging said tailportions of said flashbulb-holding means for causing saidflashbulb-holding means to open from said opening upon movement of saidmovable ejector means thereby ejecting from said holder a one of saidflashbulbs held by said holding means.
 2. A flashbulb holder as claimedin claim 1, wherein: said pair of base contact means includes springmeans for resiliently mounting said base contact means within saidopening of said housing means; said pair of base contact means aresymmetrically arranged within said opening of said housing means forcontacting each contact of the base of a smaller based one of saidflashbulbs as the latter is inserted into said opening; and a tabportion extends from one of said pair of base contact means forcontacting the edge of the base of a larger based one of said flashbulbsas the latter is inserted into said opening, thereby allowing the otherof said pair of base contact means to contact the center contact of saidbase of said larger based flashbulb.
 3. A flashbulb holder as claimed inclaim 1, wherein there are included reflector means mounted upon saidhousing means and having a fixed focal position; wherein each of saidflashbulbs has a center of illumination; and wherein saidflashbulb-holding means is arranged to oppositely yield for holding thebase of a larger based one of said flashbulbs at one holding positionthereon against the urging of said resiliently arranged base contactmeans while holding the base of a smaller based one of said flashbulbsat a different holding position thereon to cause the center ofIllumination of each of said flashbulbs to be aligned with said focalposition of said reflector.